Interview with Aaron Lau

Aaron is one of those “man about town” performers that you see in tons of shows. Most recently he’s appearing in High School Musical 2 with URP and before that he was seen this summer in Thoroughly Modern Millie at Theatre Under the Stars. We’re thrilled he’s making his Fighting Chance debut with Forbidden Broadway. We asked him some musical theatre type questions…. his responses should delight you!

What was your first musical theatre experience?
Playing in the pit orchestra in Oliver! for Earl Marriot Secondary in White Rock.  The funny part was that I wasn’t even a student there.

What is your Dream Role?
Attainable Dream Role: Usnavi from In The Heights with Benny in a very close second.
Actual Dream Role (cause I know it’ll never happen): Frankie Valli in Jersey Boys. I’ve been rocking that Valli Falsetto since high school. I just look absolutely nothing like Frankie, and I know that.

What is the scariest thing you’ll have to do in Forbidden Broadway?
If my assumptions are correct, I think it’ll be the fat suit I’d have to wear performing as Travolta in the Hairspray spoof.

What is the best experience you’ve had in the theatre?
Having had the chance to work with some of my childhood idols, and Canadian performing arts legends.

Do you have any musical theatre role models?
Norbert Leo Butz cause he’s just overall a great performer.

If you could go back in time and be a part of any Broadway show which show would it be, who would you play, and why?
It’d have to be Ching-Ho in the 2002 Tony Award Winning Thoroughly Modern Millie because then, I’d use that to further a career on Broadway, instead of making it a one-show gig like the guy who originated the role.

List the four theatrical people you would have around your dinner table in an ideal world.
Stephen Sondheim, Steven Schwartz, Oscar Hammerstein & Jason Robert Brown. Could you imagine the result of all their combined creative juices???

If you couldn’t perform, what would you do?
Honestly, I can’t answer that question.  Personally, I don’t think I could *not* perform!

What do you think is missing from the Vancouver theatre scene?
I think we don’t have enough paid opportunities for musical theatre performers. On the same note, we also need more people in Vancouver to fully support the arts so that we have more of those chances to be offered to us.